Hispanic groups are peeved at NBC for allowing Donald Trump to host 'SNL'

NBC's big announcement last week that Donald Trump would be
hosting "Saturday Night Live" has attracted the furor of a
Hispanic advocacy groups.

The National Hispanic Leadership
Agenda, a nonpartisan association of major
Hispanic national organizations, has requested that
NBC reconsider Trump's hosting of the variety show's November 7
episode. It will air during sweeps, which is when ratings help to
set networks' advertising rates.

The organization told NBC: "We are
appalled that you would enable Trump's hateful speech for nothing
[more] than a ratings ploy and ask that you rescind the SNL
invitation."

Donald Trump recently sold
the Miss Universe Organization, which includes the Miss USA
pageant.Rodrigo Varela/Getty
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The organization had previously railed against controversial comments Trump had made about
Mexican immigrants during his announcement that he would be
running for the Republican candidacy for president in June.

While NBC had no comment, Trump addressed the issue during an
interview on Fox News' "Fox & Friends" Monday morning via
phone. Trump said that he feels more in touch with Hispanics than
the advocacy groups.

"These groups are out for themselves," he said. "I know all about
these groups. I'm leading in the polls with the Hispanics...
because I produce jobs and they know it. I have thousands of
Hispanics that work for me. My relationships with Hispanics are
better than those groups. Those groups are looking to fundraise.
I know all about those groups."

He then said he believes his episode will be a success and
that NBC risks "doing a show with one-third the ratings" if
they cancel his appearance.

"Frankly, I think the ratings will be through the roof," the
69-year-old real estate mogul said. "["SNL" creator] Lorne
Michaels is a very smart guy and NBC are very smart people."